Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-30
A LIVELY WITNESS.
RACY TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CENTRAL
PACIFIC RAILROAD COMMISSION.
An Ex-senator Explains Some Little VUuchsrs-COl
Rsiff Entertains the Commission With
His Free and Easy falk-A
Judge Catches Tartar.

NEW YORK, September 29.-Ex-Senator
P. NJ. Norwood, of Georgia, appeared be-
fore the Pacific Railroad Commissioners
this morning, to explain small vouchers
for considerable amounts in possession Of
the Central Pacific Railroad, which showed
him to have received those amounts fol
services, and said that he never did any
thing for the Central Pacific Railroad, but
was engaged as consul for the Southern
Pacific in 1873 He had left the Senate
and entered upon his law practice in
Savannah and received word that his serv-
ices were wanted in Washington. He
went OH there and met Mr.. Huntington,
with whom he made q contract to act as
his counsel, for the Southern Pacific Rail-
road and advance its interests in the
South against Governor Scott's lease Pa
ciic. The witness produced a contract
drawn by Mr.. Huntington which pro-
vided for the payment to Mr.. Norwood for
his service at the rate of $40, 666 yearly
with allowance for expenses. He always
made his bills against the Southern Pacific
and drew receipts in favor of the Central
Pacific.
Col John c. Reiff, of the firm of WaOer-
ishaffer & Co., bankers and brokers OF this
CITY, was next called to the stand. He
knew nothing about the matters of the
Central Pacific Railway, but
DID KNOW CONSIDERABLE
concerning the Kansas Pacific and the
Union Pacific Railroads. As special agent
of the former company from 1864 tn 1874,
Col. Reiff said he would like them TO un-
derstaed that he was present ~ au answer
ing witness. lie had already suffered con-
siderably from the money power that con-
trolls the roads, concerning which he was
called upon 10 testify. Asked what power
he referred to, he said: Il suppose Mr..
Gould, he is the boss. "
The witness first attacked the cUnsolida-
ton of the Kansas Pacific with the Uuion
Pacific He said the latter road had not
lived up to the act of 1864, with reference
TO all paid stocks, and had accrued great
power by issuing passes which cost them
nothing This enormous power they had
used to bankrupt the Kansas Pacific and
iniure the Colonel and his friends. Since
Mr.. Gould had got into the company the
Gould methods have controlled, aud in
their methods are doing just exactly as
they wanted TO, and relying on the sub
serviency of public officers and Courts un-
der the plea of vested rights. The Union
Pacific has during this entire investigation
been crying that they were cramped by the
action Of Congress. But they have not
heen so greatly cramped, for they have
PRACTICALLY BUILT Up
their lines since the passage of the Thur
man act.
The witness said that the company could
have paid a portion of the governments
claims, but never opposed any settlement
until compulsion was resOrted to, and then
it bought the Union Pacific railway. Col.
Reiff said it appeared to he very fortunate
in that it possessed resources that lallowed
it to do what it pleased and still escape the
administration Of law.
Judge Dillon expressed desi re 10 cross
exumine the witness, and proceeded until
he reached the matter of suit brought
against the Pacific road to test the right OF
the road to construct branches. Col.
Reiff said he had nothing to do with the
suit and then appealed to the commission.
| am here as an unwilling witness and am
willing TO submit to any reasonable cross
examination, but am not on trial, and |
don't know what right Judge Dillon has
here, if he has any. My relations with the
people whom Judge Dillon represents
have been disagreeable, and don't want
them made any more so. The witness
then submitted to little further cross
examination and started to give little
testimony not elected by the questions OF
Judge Dillon. He said it is very strange
that they who have been their greatest
foes, especially if they have been able foes
of the Union Pacific in Congress afterward
APPEAR THEIR CHAMPIONS?
The author of the Thompson bill defeated
for reelection by these people, appears in
their employ at the next session of Con-
gress Who is the company's biggest
friend in the senate of the United States
to-day? George +. Hoard, who signed the
Credit Mobiler report Who are their
Washington attorneys? Shellabarger and
Wilson, who signed the same report?
If l had my way, would have Congress
pass simple bill, declaring that when
the United States has a money interest IN
any corporation, it shall have all the
rights possessed by the stockholders. This,
think, would settle the entire matter,
regarding the Government Directors OF
the Union Pacific, Mr.. Reif' said:
IF there were thirteen members of q
board of directors at a meeting and Mr..
Gould was one of them, would bet on
Mr.. Gould getting just what he wanted at
such a meeting every time" Judge Dill
lou Gesisted from further examination and
a recess was taken.